ANTI-social orders have been made against the ringleaders of a gang who have made the lives of residents in a Birmingham suburb a misery.

During their terror spree in Aston the gang, which could be up to 30 strong, caused over £10,000 damage to a school and up-rooted a lamp post.

Foysol Rashid, 19, of Whitehead Road, Waseem Shabir, 20, of Dolman Road, and Wahidur Rahman, 16, of Bevington Road, all Aston, have been ordered not to go around in a group in the 'Aston Triangle' or cause the people living there alarm, harassment or distress.

District Judge Neil Davison, sitting at Birmingham Magistrates Court, ruled the order should last for two years and also ordered Rashid and Shabir to each pay £250 costs.

Justin Bates, for the city council, said the area bordered by Dolman Road, Albert Road and Frederick Road had suffered from a noticeable increase in anti-social behaviour in the last 12 months and that Rashid, Shabir and Rahman had been identified as ring-leaders of a gang who had been causing the trouble.

He said more than £10,000 damage had been caused to the Prince Albert Junior and Infants school where staff and pupils had also been threatened.

Mr Bates said damage to the lamp post, which had almost blocked a road, amounted to £1,500 while other anti-social behaviour included graffiti, drinking in the street and dangerous driving.

One resident, he said, had been assaulted while others spoke of having rubbish dumped in their back gardens and their sleep being disturbed by late night noise and damage caused to property by fireworks.

Mr Bates said since interim orders had been made against the three the quality of life for the residents had improved enormously and that the teachers and pupils were no longer being threatened.

A further interim order was made in relation to another 16-year-old while the case against a 17-year-old, who has denied causing an anti-social problem, was adjourned for trial.

Sgt Pete Henrick, of West Midlands Police, commented after the case: "This group of individuals have shown disregard for the local residents, local businesses, local schools and the police. Their actions have intimidated residents and created an atmosphere of fear.

"Anti-Social Behaviour Orders against these individuals has restored the communities' quality of life."